Post-driving head



June 1 7, 1930. I J H 'QSTEN 1,764,223 I POST DRIVING HEAD Filed NOV. 30, 1928 Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES JAMES HENRY OSTEN, OF WHITE CITY, KANSAS POST-DRIVING HEAD Application filed November 30, 1928.

This invention relates to a driving head designed primarily for use in forcing metal fence posts into the ground without upsetting or otherwise mutilating them.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character which can be applied readily to metal fence posts of different types, whether they be channeled, L- shaped, or T-shaped.

AIlOther object is to provide a driving head which can beapplied to a post at any point where it is most convenient to strike it with a sledge hammer, thus making it possible readily to force very long posts into the ground even though the person wielding the sledge is standing on the ground.

A further object is to provide-a driving head which can be applied readily to and removed from a post.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without 36 departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure l is a perspective View showing the driving head applied to a T-shaped fence post.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1, the post being in section.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 2, the post and anvil being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the saddle block. v

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a portion of the invention applied to an L-shaped post.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the device applied to a channeled post.

Referring to the figures by characters of one piece.

Serial No. 322,809.

reference, 1 designates a yoke formed preferably of parallel flat arms 2 and an intermediate or connecting portion 3 all made in The arms 2 are formed with longitudinal slots 4; and extending transversely through the arms 2 near the intermediate portion 8 of the yoke is a removable bolt 5. This bolt is adapted to extend through a saddle block 6 the length of which is slightly less than the maximum distance between the arms 2. This block has spaced wings 7, the said wings being not only spaced from each other. but also being spaced from the ends of the block 6. The wings are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a middle flange or web of a T-shaped fence post of a standard size and the wings are spacedfrom the ends of the block distances equal to thewidth of the side flanges of a channeled post or an L- shaped post of standard sizes.

A guide plate 8 is interposed between arms 2 and has upper and lower lugs 9 adapted to lap and ride upon the upper and lower edges respectively of the arms 2. This guide plate has a transverse groove 9 in its outer or back face adapted to receive one edge of abacking wedge 10 insertable into the slots 4.. Withdrawal of the wedge is prevented by a key 11 in the form of a plate held to one face of the wedge by a bolt-P12. By removing-the bolt and key plate the wedge can be withdrawn from the slot.

There is usedin connection with the parts thus far-described a wedging'bloek 13 hav ing a head 14 constituting an anvil. This block 13 is adapted tobe inserted downwardly between the guide plate 8 and one of the faces of the post to be driven.

Whenit is desired to drive a FT-shaped metal fence postinto the ground the yoke l with the saddle blocks fastened therein is placed astride the post so that the web W of the T-shaped post T will extend between the wings 7 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

.sThe guide plate 8 is positioned between the arms 2 and wedge 10 is then inserted into the slots 4 and held by means of the plate 11. Thereafter the wedging block 13 is forced downwardly between the guide plate 8 and the .CTw

the adjacent face of the post T and following this operation a sledge or the like is impelled against the anvil 14. This will cause the parts to bind tightly together and as the anvil is driven downwardly the post will be carried therewith.

lVhen it is desired to disconnect the driving head from the post, the wedging block 13 is driven upwardly out of position within the yoke following which the entire structure can be lifted off the post, placed over the end of another post, brought to proper posi tion thereon, and the wedging block reinsorted. The post can then be set up on end and the operation already described can be repeated.

Should it be desired to use the device on an L-shaped post such as indicated at L in Figure 5, the wings 7 of the sadole block would be extended into the angle of the post as shown in said figure. Should the device be used with a channeled post as indicated at C in Figure 6, the two wings would extend into the channel as shown in said figure. Otherwise the operation will be the same as already explained.

It will be noted that the saddle block 6 has a transverse rib 15. A groove 16 may be formed in the intermediate portion 3 of the yoke to receive this rib whereby a slight rocking movement of the saddle block is permitted when the same is being adjusted to the post.

hat is claimed is:

1. A driving head for fence posts and the like, including a yoke for straddling the same, a block pivot-ally suspended between the sides of the yoke and bearing againstthe closed end of the yoke, a guide plate supported in the yoke, a backing wedge therefor, a wedging block insertable into the yoke between the guide plate and a post or the like engaging the block, and an anvil on said wedging block.

2. A driving head for fence posts and the like including a yoke, a saddle block detachably mounted in and thrusting against the yoke, said block having wings spaced from each other and from the ends of the block for receiving portions of a post or the like, a wedging block insertable into the yoke for engaging a post in contact with the saddle block, and means carried by the yoke for backing the wedging block when forced in one direction into the yoke.

3. A driving head for fence posts and the like including a yoke, a saddle block detachably mounted in and thrusting against the yoke, said block having wings spaced from each other and from the ends of the block for receiving portions of a post or the like,

one direction into the yoke, said means including a guide plate supported by and extending transversely of the yoke, a backing wedge removably mounted in the yoke and extending transversely of the guide plate.

4. A driving head for fence posts and the like including a yoke, a saddle block detarch ably mounted in and thrusting against the yoke, said block having wings spaced from each other and from the ends of the block for receiving portions of a post or the like, a wedging block insertable into the yoke for engaging a post in contact with the saddle block, and means carried by the yoke for backing the wedging block when forced in one direction into the yoke, said means including a guide plate supported by and extending transversely of the yoke, a backing wedge removably mounted in the yoke and extending transversely of the guide plate, and a retaining key detachably fastened to the wedge for holding it against withdrawal from the yoke.

5. A driving head for fence posts and the like including a yoke, a saddle block within and bearing against the intermediate portion of the yoke, said block having wings spaced from each other and from the end of the block, thereby to adapt the block for engagement with fence posts of different cross sectional contours, and means removably mounted in the yoke for binding an engaged post against the wings of the saddle block.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

JAMES HENRY OSTEN 

